In 1960, a massive storm roared through South Dakota, and destroyed Ben Sr.’s farm. Ben Sr. needed a bank loan to rebuild the family farm and went to every bank in town to ask for one. They all turned him down, because he was deaf. Ben Sr. lost his farm and was forced to move his entire family.In 1975, Ben started Communication Service for the Deaf to expand communication access so that people can lead better, more fulfilling lives. Mostly, Ben did not want any other deaf child to experience what he did.